Run for Cover

Dow and Bishop shoot at a hawk beside a watering hole, forming an uneasy but friendly bond. A recently robbed train passes by, adding fear of pursuit. A bag of money is tossed toward the two men, tempting them to take the windfall.

Dow and Bishop decide to head to the next town to return the money, but a posse along the railroad line ambushes them. The confrontation wounds Bishop, who is carried to the Swenson farm to recover. Dow survives the attack and contemplates how to clear their names.

Dow returns to town and confronts the trainmen in the sheriff's office, explaining what happened. He then goes out to the Swenson farm to check on Bishop and is welcomed by Helga Swenson and her father. The encounter marks the dawning of Dow's ties to the Swenson family.

Dow spends more time with Helga and their bond deepens into romance. He eventually works up the courage to propose, hinting at a hopeful future for them both. The town watches as their relationship develops.

An outlaw named Morgan and a partner are spotted planning a bank robbery. The second man is captured, but Morgan escapes custody, forcing Dow to pursue on his own. Dow successfully tracks and captures Morgan.

Dow returns with Morgan, only to learn that Bishop has been frightened into turning his prisoner over to a lynch mob. Dow tasks Bishop with taking Morgan to the marshal for safety and then arrests the lynch mob himself. The judge lazily fines the mob ten dollars each, and Bishop returns injured after Morgan overpowered him and escaped.

Morgan and outlaw Gentry return to rob the town’s bank, killing Helga's father as they escape. Gentry recognizes Dow, heightening suspicion in the town. Dow reveals his past: he once shared a prison cell with Gentry for six years in a mistaken identity case and was pardoned.

A posse forms and pursues the thieves into Comanche territory, where most riders want to abandon the chase. Dow insists on continuing, but only Bishop remains by his side in the harsh pursuit. Bishop shoots Dow, injuring his arm, and Dow overpowers Bishop after the confession that he helped plan the robbery.

Dow and Bishop push on and discover that most of the robbers have been killed by the Comanche; they recover the money and vow to pursue the remaining thieves. The harsh terrain tests their resolve and their loyalties.

Dow and Bishop are briefly trapped by Comanches and hide the money. Dow attempts to cross a river and is left to drown by Bishop, who clings to a log and follows him to ruins with Morgan. The situation becomes a grim standoff among the surviving thieves.

Dow confronts Morgan and Bishop in the ruins and shoots Morgan in self-defense, asserting that justice must be done. He tells Bishop that he will take him back to town to be hanged, turning the man’s fate on the line. Morgan regains consciousness and reaches for his gun, but Bishop shoots first, prompting Dow to realize that Bishop may not be beyond redemption.

In the end, Dow realizes Bishop was not beyond redemption. He returns home with the recovered money and gives Davey's compliments to Helga's family. Helga asks about Davey, and Dow replies that Davey did fine, bringing the tale to a quiet close.